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Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of Luke to see how Jesus sets us free.
So let’s dive in.
(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)
Luke 13:10-17
One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your disability.” Then He placed His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God. But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.” “You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water? Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” When Jesus said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing.
My Thoughts
There is so much freedom being handed out in this passage. First, the obvious physical healing: Jesus sets this woman free from a debilitating, eighteen-year bondage. But he doesn’t stop there. He names the spiritual reality, setting her free from the direct grip of Satan.
And then, look at how He handles the synagogue leader. In that moment, Jesus is setting the people there—and us today—free from the crushing bondage of legalism. He cuts right through the red tape of religious rules to get to the heart of God’s compassion.
This shouldn’t surprise us. It’s exactly what the Scriptures promised the Messiah would do. Isaiah 61:1 says:
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners…”
Jesus is the Great Rescuer. But as incredible as physical healing is, His absolute greatest rescue mission was the one He accomplished on the cross: rescuing us from our sins. Remember the angel’s words in Matthew 1:21:
“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Here’s the takeaway for us today: As disciple-makers, we are called to join this rescue mission. We don’t do the saving—only Jesus saves people from their sins. But we get the incredible privilege of carrying the powerful message of the Gospel. We get a front-row seat to watch the captives be set free.
Who needs that message of freedom from you today?
My Story
Freedom is one of my highest values. I think I first recognized that in elementary school. I used to sit and watch the clock on the classroom wall, counting down the minutes until 3:00 p.m., when the bell would ring and we would be released from what felt like prison. That mindset continued through high school, although I often took matters into my own hands and simply stopped going to class.
Ironically, after dropping out, I joined the Army. Before long, I found myself anxiously waiting for basic training to end, then infantry training, and then one demanding school and assignment after another. I seemed trapped in an endless cycle of waiting for the next release. No matter where I was, I was always looking forward to being somewhere else.
At the same time, I recognized my bondage to sin. I knew I was heading in the wrong direction. When someone shared the Gospel with me, I didn’t try to justify myself or make excuses. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was a sinner. The problem was that I couldn’t clean myself up. I was chained to substance abuse, sexual immorality, and a host of other behaviors that I knew did not please God.
Then came the day when I finally surrendered. I did an about-face, stopped trying to fix myself, and received God’s gift of forgiveness through Christ Jesus. For the first time in my life, I was truly free. Many of the sins that had dominated my life simply vanished overnight. Don’t get me wrong—I still had plenty of areas where I needed to grow, and I still do. But the crushing weight of so many things that had burdened my soul was gone.
I was a new man, and I was free. I am so glad a Special Forces Sergeant had the guts to share the gospel with me.
Our Action Plan
Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas:
- Think about the times in life you were “set free.” Thank God for those times!
- Join God on His rescue mission and share the gospel regularly.
- Reflect on our ultimate freedom in heaven, where we will be forever free from sin and death. Share your thoughts with a friend.
We have the incredible privilege of joining Jesus in the great rescue mission. Let’s get out and share the best news humanity has ever heard and truly let freedom ring!
ToBeLikeJesus 